***
Jones didn’t talk much on the way to North Carolina. In fact, he fell asleep about ten minutes into the flight, his head landing on my shoulder with a soft thud. This gave me the opportunity to push my nose into his soft curls, inhale his familiar scent, and curse my cock when it perked up with interest. I was thankful I had showered and changedbefore we got on the plane. I was nervous that Ollie would be here, but when he never showed up, I was able to breathe easy and relax. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t see him back in North Carolina. I knew how close they were. A week was a long time not to see your best friend. He was going to be upset when he found me there. Probably threaten me a few more times.
I didn’t mind that Jones was using me as a pillow. In fact, I liked it more than I should. It felt comfortable, almost like we were never separated, and I wondered what would happen once we landed. I took a moment to drag my fingers through Jones’s hair, enjoying the feel against my skin, and tears blurred my vision.
I never should have listened to my father. I should have stayed with Jones. Fought for him instead of hurting him the way I had. The fact that I was here with him right now meant I might get a second chance, and I wasn’t going to let it slip through my hands. I would drop everything for Jones, my new career, my family, the money, all of it, just to have him back in my life and in my arms. I just hoped that my father didn’t end up hurting Jones’s mother like he said he would. I wasn’t completely convinced he was in love with Alice, but then again, I didn’t have much of a relationship with the man these days. I never had.
Jones sat up and flushed pink when he met my eyes. “Sorry,” he mumbled as a blush crept up his neck and over his face. There was a crease mark on his cheek from my shirt, and it was more than adorable.
“For what? Sleeping on me? Jonesy.” I reached over to press his head back against my shoulder. “You can sleep on me any time you want.”
He let out a giggle that went straight to my cock. “I missed you.” He looked as surprised as I felt when the words slipped from his mouth. “I mean... fudge.” He tried to hide his face against me, but I wouldn’t let him.
“Say that again, Bashful.”
“I missed you, Charlie.”
Before I could stop myself, I hauled Jones into my lap. He let out a surprised squeal.
“I missed you so fucking much,” I whispered.
His hazel eyes searched my gaze, then his entire face crumbled, and he burst into tears. Jones shoved his face into my neck as he sobbed, and I wrapped my arms around him to hold him against me. I hadn’t meant to upset him. I just wanted Jones to know I felt the same way.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry.” He glanced up at me with tear-stained cheeks. “Maybe this was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have invited you to come home with me. I’m terrified of being hurt again. Maybe things should just stay the way they were—”
I stopped him by gently sliding my lips over his. “Does that feel like a bad idea to you?” I leaned forward to do it again, and Jones trembled in my arms. “I’m so damn sorry about what I did. You didn’t deserve that from me. You’re so amazing. I’ve thought about you every single day.”
“I thought you hated me,” Jones whispered as his hands came up to cradle my head. “I thought I did something wrong. If you had just spoken to me. Told me what yourdaddy had said, we could have worked it out. Done something to fix it. We could have been together.”
I pressed my forehead against his. “You’re right. I got scared. I didn’t want your mom to get hurt. My father.... He’s not a good person, Jonesy, and if you knew half of the shit he’s done, you’d say the same thing. He’s horrible.”
“Does he love her?” Jones asked, tracing my mouth with the tip of his finger.
I grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss against his palm. “I don’t know.”
I knew my father had cheated on my mother, but I wasn’t sure if he had done that with Jones’s mom. I had only met the woman one time, and she seemed kind, and a lot like the man in my arms. She deserved better.
“He treats her so good. She doesn’t have to work. She has a big house with a roof over her head, and she’s always happy. She’s cheerful and smiling whenever we get together or talk on the phone. I’d hate for it to be a lie, Charlie. Mama is a good woman.”
I nodded. “She is, and she raised an equally good man. One I need to do right by.”
“Did you block me on social media and change your phone number?” Jones asked. When I nodded, his face fell. “It hurt, Charlie. It felt like you didn’t care about me. That you used me and that everything Ollie had warned me about was true. That you were only using me until you got what you wanted.”
Just the mention of Ollie’s name had me growling before I could stop myself. “Ollie’s in love withyou, too; so we know he’d try to keep us apart no matter what. He wants you.”
“That’s not fair, and you know it.” Jones struggled in my arms. “Let go of me.”
When I did, he moved back into his own seat.
“Ollie would never act on his feelings. He only wants me to be happy, and besides, he’s sort of seeing Kit Atkins, but it’s very hush hush.”
My brows shot up at the mention of the rookie driver. “Kit is gay?” I had no idea.
“Er... Can we pretend I didn’t say that?” Jones blushed. “Kit’s very private about his sexuality, and no one knows. It’s very enemies to lovers with them. I don’t even think Kit likes himself very much.”
That sounded horrible. “I kind of feel bad for Ollie right now. Is that what you were going for?” I pictured the black eye he had and wondered if Kit gave it to him. What kind of person hit the man they’re in a relationship with?
“I wasn’t. Just know that Ollie has his own issues he’s dealing with right now, and he’s only trying to make sure I’m happy. I spent a lot of time with him after you left me.” Jones suddenly stood up and climbed back into my lap. Something I hadn’t expected. “I’m going to make you work for this. There needs to be lots of groveling, butt kissing, that sort of thing. Flowers. Romance me, Charlie. I deserve that.”
